Nayo roped in to end crisis

In a dramatic turn of events, the South African Football Association has roped in former rugby boss Songezo Nayo to restore order at its Cape Town region.

This was after the region asked the mother body to intervene in the infighting in the executive committee.

It has allegedly split the executive along racial lines.

Safa vice-president Mubarak Mohamed was also in Cape Town three weeks ago to get to the bottom of the problems, which have been going on for almost a year now.

Nayo, who is the former managing director of the South African Rugby Football Union, was unavailable to comment at the time of going to press.

Raymond Hack, Safa chief executive, yesterday announced that Nayo has been appointed to take full control of the affairs of Safa Cape Town.

That includes administrative affairs and to ensure that everything necessary is done to bring Safa Cape Town in line with its constitutional requirements.

"Nayo has started his duties with immediate effect and is expected to complete his mandate in six months' time," Hack said.

"The management committee resolved to appoint Nayo after requests by Safa Cape Town to intervene in a crisis that has adversely affected football in the region.

"We have a responsibility to see to it that football is played in the country, and we can't stand by and allow politics to stop children and our people from playing football in the province."

Hack said the committee had accepted a resolution by Safa Cape Town that all executive members be relieved of their duties.

In addition, it was accepted that Safa will do a full audit of Safa Cape Town, including the finances and operations of the provincial academy. But Safa management did not accept the resolution to charge feuding officials Vernon Seymor and Michael Siheke for bringing Safa and the Cape Town region into disrepute.